Why do people say ‘amen’ in church?
Because they sing hymns, not hers.
Beats the hell out of me what they end a prayer with in a synagogue, however…
same thing. we have hymns, too. but sometimes we also have a her leading them
Morning everyone! **LOUNE ** directed me over to the picture thread and it was nice putting faces to some of the names. 
Another day around here, nothing exciting going on. Maybe that’s a good thing?
SCL, I’m keeping you and Libby in my thoughts and prayers.
Mornin. I have not had enough sleep. Hubby woke up early - at a quarter of freakin’ four!- and the dogsd would NOT leave me alone, and then hubby is honking and snorting in the bathroom, and then a dog is barking outside my window, and, and, and I have hot flashes and, and AARRGGHHH! Everytime I would doze back off, some noise would wake me up. I finally got up at 5:15.
I wanna go home. yawn
I just spent the night in the doghouse.
As the observant MMPer knows, The VunderKind is coming tomorrow for a 3 day visit. VWife has been on a tear to clean the house , and on top of it all, Freya’s been sick and power-sh!tting everywhere. Tuesday night I was shampooing carpet to clean up after the dog, and got interrupted by that ‘raging brushfire’. :rolleyes: She was annoyed.
Last night was something nightmares were made of, however.
Freya is getting better, but still imitating a chocolate shake dispenser. I had more to clean up, plus it was the night designated to pick up the crap (mostly her stuff) ahead of the housecleaner.
As soon as I got home, I started with the shampooer. During the first trip outside to dump the wastewater, the rescue squad was paged for a possible heat stroke. It was also close to home. I invoked the 3 page rule; if no one responds after 3 pages, I’ll go myself. The 3rd page sounded, so I called in. The usual :rolleyes: from VWife when I told her I was taking the nearby call. “Don’t fart around, and don’t ride!!!” was her parting shot.
I got to the place, and the patient was the neigbor of the guy who called in. The caller got home from work, and the old guy came up to him asking for help, and nearly passed out. Given the heat, the caller assumed heat stroke.
I started checking the old guy out. His skin felt normal, neither dry nor profuse sweating; BP was fine; etc. He had difficulty talking, so I tried checking him for stroke symptoms; nothing remarkable there. The caller said the old guy always talked like that, but this time it was slower.
No remarkable medical history. No medications. All he would say was that he had 2 shots of vodka earlier in the afternoon.
Hmmm.
The unit showed up, and Ronnie was equally perplexed. Are you familiar with the term ‘gaydar’? There’s an analogous concept called clinical judgement in emergency medicine, and it’s the little voice that guides you when you’re working on a patient. I’m a n00b, so mine is not well developed. Ronnie’s been around the block many times, and his wasn’t picking anything up, either. So, we transported.
We hauled him up to Suffolk, and the ER staff was initially puzzled, too. Then, a light went on. The only thing wrong with our patient was that he consumed a lot more vodka than he admitted to, and was trashed.
:smack: :mad:
The only redeeming point was that we left him in the ER, and the hospital had no air conditioning. I felt sorry for everyone else sweating, but not that old fart.
The usual paper work was done, and word came back that there was 3 active calls in the county, and only 2 available units since we were in Suffolk. I told Ronnie that I was in trouble anyway, so I might as well go with him to the scene.
This call was for an even older guy than the drunk who was in the yard and fell, and could not put weight on his left leg. I have to make another tangent right now for character development. I’m beginning to see people I know personally as patients, which I think is remarkable for having lived in Mayberry for a year now, and this patient and his family are people I know; the nephew is a part of the Mayberry fire department. The patient, while quite old, is a very cool dude.
Back to the story. When we got to the scene, the patient was in the driveway, sitting in a chair. We checked him out. He could wiggle his toes. No one could find a pulse in the affected foot, but his BP was a little low and his toes were warm, so that was not a big concern. He was alert, not hurting when sitting still, and the nephew had a Palm Pilot with the old guy’s history, meds, and personal information. A complete turnaround from our other call.
“What hospital do you want to go to?” :: please please please say Bugtussel::
“Suffolk.” Great. it’s the longer drive, so that another 2 hours shot in the ass.
Load and go.
Back to the same ER. One of the nurses who had charge of the drunk saw us coming in and asked if we were there to take him home…
We got the cool old guy situated in a room, and the nurse started the workup on him. We helped strip him, and once his pants were off, his left leg was visibly shorter than his right. Since he could wiggle his toes, his hip was probably dislocated, but broken was a remote possibility.
Anyway, the nurse started asking the admission questions. There was some confusion, so one of the juniors who was riding along went out to get the nephew to come back and answer. Nephew is a former NC Highway Patrolman, retired after being injured on duty. Questions answered, and we started telling him about our previous run. Npehew’s face suddenly showed simultaneous recognition and confusion.
<drunk’s last name>?<drunk’s first name><drunk’s last name>?
“Yeah.”
“He’s quite a character.” Nephew points to the junior. “Your dad works for the phone company?”
Junior: “Yes.”
“Mr. Drunk is quite the paranoid fellow. I had a call where your father was on the pole fixing the drunk’s phone, and Mr. Drunk started shooting at him.”
:eek:
Cool Old Uncle was signed over to the ER staff, and we left. I promised VWife that I’d bring dinner after the first run, so we stopped at a fast food joint and I got her a burger. She reminded me explicitly that bringing her a sandwich at 9:30 PM was not going to do much to get me out of trouble.
I got home about 9:30, ate my sammich, finished the carpet, took a LOT of shit, and walked the dog so I could get to bed. It was 10:30 when I walked in the back door with Freya, and I hear **BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP **.
“Oh Shit! NOW I’ve got a fire!” If looks could kill…
Off to the station. I was the first one there, and as I was reaching to open the doors, we were told to disregard.
The tally for the night was 6 ambulance calls and a small fire in Pixley’s district, all in a span of 6 hours. Normally, that’s 2 day’s worth.
In all the excitement of the night, the antenna came off my radio and is lost, so I’m out of the ambulance biz until it gets replaced in about a week. VWife is now happy.
“But I only had two shots of vodka, Mr. Fireman!” Heh. Good stories, Bob.
Right. As soon as Mr. Lissar uploads the pics to the computer I will share them. as Haze mentioned above, I am not good with mechanical things. Too complicated.
I had a lovely time. Haze is friendly and wonderful, and we had a chat at my place before trundling off to find the other Dopers, who are also friendly and wonderful, plus there wasgood food. I have pictures of Haze wrestling valiantly with her poutine. Sunspace was forcibly prevented from trying to access the Dope from the pub.
He’s not addicted. :rolleyes:
Today it’s not hot! so I have the windows open, and I’m contemplating more unpacking and tidying. Yawn. After tea.
BBBobbio here’s hopin’ things quiet down whilst VunderKind is there.
Mornin’ Y’all! Up and caffienated here. Actually been up since 7:20 (that’s early for a second shifter!) cause of a dang leg cramp. I got good and woke up and when that happens I can’t go back to bed.
It is unbelievably freakin’ hot even for south Jawja! Temps ranging from 102 - 105 Amurrkin with heat indices from 108 - 115! It’s hot at work. I just keep rememberin’ that hydration is our friend. I keep big ol’ Bubba Keg filled with water and ice and drink a lot of water. Last night I was doin’ a <snerk> push in/ pull out <snerk> at the pasteurizer and I took a little bit longer than usual cause the water temp at <snerk> push in/pull out <snerk> is around 78 Amurrkin and felt kinda good, so I was lettin’ water splash on me a little bit. Like any of y’all would not have done the same thing! 
Snakes here’s hopin’ for the best possible outcome for Libby whatever that may be. I’m keepin’ her, her family and you in my thoughts and prayers. Others have said it, but let me say too that you’re a great friend.
Hope the Dopefest was fun yesterday. We demand details!
Be careful on the rest of your trip Alice!
Yays, boos, hugs, woohoos, grrrrs, icks as appropriate all around.
Here’s Sunspace’s pic of Haze. At the pub. Unfortunately it isn’t proof of meeting, since there’s no one else in it. Of course, any pic of Haze is worthwhile. She’s really cute.
She is cute! Sunspace needs to learn the meaning of the word “focus,” however – possibly the proximity to Haze caused him to lose that ability.
Roo – I’m pretty glad I’m not married to the Antiques Roadshow host; he was a bit of the shallow sort. Former game show host and all. :rolleyes: Go PBS.
Yay! You like the name! I decided not to explain the Sherman and Peabody connection and see how many people got it.
I figured Sherman was named after a tank but I couldn’t think of any other tanky names.
Fearless Leader; Thanks for asking. My eyes haven’t been as painful since I started using the atropine drops and the redness and inflammation has been going down. The atropine is making my vision blurry and I was getting headaches trying to focus on things so I decided to stop the atropine and see if my eyes would undilate and if they are still painful without it. It’s been two days and they are still dilated. My left pupil is misshapen and looks freaky from scarring and adhesions and I don’t know yet if it will go back to normal or if I will just have a freaky eye for the rest of my life. I can deal with freaky as long as I can see out of it. Sometimes it’s fun to be able to freak people out.
H&R; At least I can take comfort in knowing I will not be alone in hell.
I don’t suppose it helps my case that I was searching some toy sites looking for an appropriate monkey?
Hmm … Appropriate Monkey?
BAND NAME!
It’s supposed to be much cooler today(102). I have a load of sheets in the washer, and I’m drinking coffee.
:waves at Haze pic:
LiLi, glad you had a good time, and that Haze didn’t axe murder you.
**BBBobbio[/]b, sounds like the doghouse might be less poopy that the Vunderlair. I get “a shot” and “a pint” confused a lot, too.
Dotty, I don’t have too many problems, but I swear half my hard drive is security programs.
Morning, all. I slept okay last night, but poor Papa Tigs was awakened at 2 am by a nasty reflux attack. He hasn’t had one of those in a couple of years, and hasn’t had the kind of tummy problems he used to have for even longer, so he didn’t even have any Mylanta. So he had an awful time getting back to sleep, what with his throat burning. 
Your hubby honks, too, Rebo? I almost started a thread yesterday asking about that. Women blow their noses; men honk. Why is that?
Sounds like the Tronnadope was fun. No group pic, though? Who forgot that critical detail? :dubious:
It must have been fun to work the Roadshow, Ellen, even if Mark Wahlberg is an airhead. I saw one of the Keno brothers in one of the photos – did you get to meet either of them? Them or the toy guys would be the ones I’d want to meet; their love of what they do and enthusiasm for a beautiful find is so contagious!
We’re supposed to have a line of nasty thunderboomers go through here this afternoon, so here’s hoping I don’t have a totally freaked-out dog on my hands. Hopefully the storms will split and move just north and south of us; for some reason, our geography makes that happen nine times out of ten. It’s really weird. But I’m not complaining!
I’m not complaining that it’s a bit cooler today, either. Usually living near the Bay has a more moderating effect on our temps, but no such luck yesterday; we made it to 98°, with about 45% humidity, which for that temp is definitely noticeable. Even at 11:30 p.m., when I let Isaac out for a late pee, it was still nearly 90°. I sure hope we don’t have a lot more of that extreme heat, because I simply cannot explain to a dog why his playtime has to be severely limited. In New Orleans, we had an shallow old stone fountain in the back yard that I kept filled with fresh water so he could lie down in the water and cool off every few throw of the Kong and play a lot longer, but we don’t have anything like that here. (And no, a kiddie pool wouldn’t work – he doesn’t like them, we already tried that. Stoopid dog.)
Continued prayers for Libby.
I would like to indicate I sort of love it (but I’d love it more if I was authorized the use of inflatable baseball bats as a teaching tool) when my customers complain that they told the computer to do something* and it’s behaving exactly as they ordered it to.
It is also nice when there’s something they’ve been making a huge fuss about, we’ve told them a procedural solution (something like “instead of clicking ‘exit’, click ‘save’”), they’ve been going back and forth for two months about not wanting that solution but also not being very clear on what they want the solution to be, then after we’ve finally got a defined solution and have logged a couple days working on it… they go and decide to use the original solution after all but do not inform us. Mind you, we still get to bill for the attempt
- Not “told” in the actual “use your voice” sense, ok? Our computers aren’t any better at interpreting “you ****** piece of ****, give me the customers report ******!” than any others.
Every time that I look at my diminished paycheck and feel a bit sniffly, I remember stuff like this and feel happy again that I can say… thaaaaank God it’s Thuuuuuursdaaaaay!
Yep. I’s smart y’all! I gots me a certificate to prove it too! So There!
Backstory:
Y’all remember I had to take an aptitude test when I first applied for the brewery gig. I aced it, of course, was there ever any doubt! 
Anywho, when I took the test I (well, everybody in the room was told but this ain’t about any of them it’s about me!) was told that if I done good I’d get me a certificate sayin’ I was work ready. Like I cared. All I cared about is that Miller Brewing deemed my test results good enough to offer me the job. So, I had not thought a thing about this certificate bidness. Oh and said test took place almost two months ago now.
Thus endeth the backstory
Today, I got this biiiiig envelope in the mail. On the front it says: Your Georgia Work Ready Certificate is enclosed. And… in biiiiiiiiiiiiiig screamin’ red letters just below that DO NOT BEND Of course, mail lady had to bend the envelope to get it in my mail box. What? I thought it was funny! So, I has me a certificate that says I’s smart. I kin reed, find stuff and cipher. Says so right there on the back of my certificate!
It says…
APPLIED MATHEMATICS
Skill Level 5 (apparently the highest level)
*Decide what information, calculations, or unit conversions to use to solve the problem.
*Look up a formula and perform single-step conversions within or between systems of measurement.
*Calculate using mixed units (e.g. 3.5 hours and 4 hours and 30 minutes).
*Divide negative numbers
*Find the best deal using one- and two-step calculations and then comparing results.
*Calculate perimeters and areas of basic shapes.
*Calculate percentage discounts or markups.
LOCATING INFORMATION
Skill Level 5 (still up there with the best of 'em I am!)
*Understand complicated workplace graphics, such as detailed forms, tables, graphs, diagrams, maps, or instrument gauges.
*Comprehend graphics that may have less common formats.
*Summarize and/or compare one or more graphics at a time.
*Identify trends shown in one or more detailed or complicated graphics.
READING FOR INFORMATION
Skill Level 5 (right on up there with all the geniuses!)
*Figure out the correct meaning of a word based on how the work is used.
*Identify the correct meaning of an acronym that is defined in the document.
*Identify the paraphrased definition of a technical term or jargon that is defined in the document.
*Apply technical terms and jargon and relate them to stated situations.
*Apply straightforward instructions to a new situation that is similar to the one described in the material.
*Apply complex instructions that include conditionals to situations described in the materials.
Now tell me y’all ain’t impressed all to heck!
I’s a geeeeeeenyouse!
I’s not impressed, I already knew youse was intullighent an’ all properly edumacated, I did.
I must say, quite a lot of those are things way too many people, often in positions to make many-figures-decisions, do not have. One of my coworkers was bouncing in his chair after an exchange like this:
(him) “this will require a total of 30 man-hours. Please note that does not mean it will be done next week, as the man-hours are not consecutive and the task is low-priority.”
(customer) “oh, since it’s 30 hours, it will be ready next week, yes?”
One of these days I’ll explain to him my suspicion that half of it is illiteracy, but half of it is trying to catch him with his guard down and getting an undue “yes.”
Congrats to Brainy! We knew you had it in you.
I am all :rolleyes: right now about the general stupidity of people, too. I had to call a new doctor’s office to schedule an appointment for Papa Tigs about his pinched nerves in his neck, and when I spoke to the young woman, she of course had to get a bunch of information. Which I expected, had in front of me, and provided pleasantly. Only to have her practically leap through the phone and kiss me because I wasn’t being abusive to her! She kept apologizing for having to get so much info, and I kept saying, “I understand, it’s your job, you have to do it,” and she kept saying, “But you don’t know how many people yell at me!” :rolleyes: She not only got him a new patient appointment for tomorrow morning, which is amazing since these days most new patient appointments are a month out at every specialist I’ve called since we’ve lived here, but even asked me if I was going to come in with him. I think she wants to thank me in person. I guess I should go just to make her happy. We all can use some nice people in our jobs once in a while, right? As opposed to the people who yell at you for asking for info that they’re going to need to provide anyway. :rolleyes:
BioTigs I definitely think you should go along tomorrow. Wear your closet thing you have to June Cleaver outfit and bring some brownies along to give to the receptionist. She’ll be grateful and freaked out at the same time. It’s all win-win!
Feeling Hot! Hot! Hot!
It’s 103 degrees Amurikin right now, and the dog just went sunbathing. :dubious:
swampy. You are smart. You make things go.
Nava, I have customers who get upset because they are supposed to read price signs.
Off to work!
Ummm… yeah, that’s it. The fact that it’s a crappy phonecam had nothing to do with it. (I so want a decent digital camera… the last four years I’ve been trying to get one, and always, always, something else has been in the way.)
Haze is definitely one of the Good Ones, like everyone else there. I describe my TronnaDope experiences, and a few more, here.
Yes, as described there, I can now legally sell my solar-powered house plans in Ontario! There is a program where you can demonstrate knowledge of the building code and become qualified and registered and allowed to design; it’s intended for people who have some previous experience in the field but aren’t actually architects or engineers. This is what I have done.
Time to get people off the grid and away from the furnace, and also make some extra money doing it! I’ve paid my debts off but have NO savings and very much want to change that. I need to save so that I can get a secured credit card and finally after six years be able to rent a car again, to name just one example.
I haven’t even come close to reading through the entire MMP though, so I can’t give appropriate greetings to everyone yet. And I’m going to be twitch away from the Dope twitch quiver this weekend, so I may not have the chance to.
:: waves hi at everyone ::
Dude, you should have told us it was your birthday! Happy birthday and congratulations!
My new glasses are distorting my depth perception. Everything is all slanty. Washing dishes will be an adventure. (Crash! Crack! Thud!)